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MiragePro

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  • First Name
    Wayne
  • Jaguar Model
    XK8
  • Year of Jaguar
    2002
  • UK/Ireland Location
    Other/NonUK

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  1. Ron, it sounds as if you have been around to the block a few time when it comes to cars. My brother purchased a BSA 650 lightning here in the states. He took a road trip to California from Seattle. When he got back he complained how sore he was due to the vibrations and traded it in for a Honda 750. Back in the early 70's I was working for Panasonic and putting a lot of miles on my 71 Capri. When I went to trade it in for a new one the Capri's were not out yet, and that is how I ended up with the Mustang ii. The ford dealer was across the street. The truck had just rolled in with their first delivery of the Mustangs and they gave me this sales pitch about how it was German designed and the suspension was from Mercedes. By the time I learned it was just a Ford pinto it was too late. In the three years I had the Capri I had put over a 100k miles on it with no problems. That is something you Brits can be proud of. Even though it was built in Germany it had the British 1600-cc Kent crossflow engine. In 72 I had to go to Chicago for the CES show and decided to take the wife and drive from Seattle. Back then there were not speed limits in the state of Montana. On flat out stretches I could cruise at 120 mph on long stretches. Great little car and engine.
  2. Carole, you have some high quality pedigree in your stable. I have enjoyed this whole thread with all the input from members who have lived and worked through the British auto industry. Very educational. Another Jag I would love to own is the XJ6 or 12. Unfortunately my garage will hold only 3 cars. We recently totaled our Volvo C30, our daily driver, and are going down to a Jag dealer in San Diego to look at a Volvo C30 Polstar. My wife is a big Volvo fan and they only imported 250 of these and are numbered. I am hoping I can talk her out of it and convince her that the F-type would be more exciting, or at least maybe a F-Pace. I would have to thank Jay Leno for getting bitten by the Jag bug. Every time he shows a new Jag segment on his YouTube channel, I have to grab a roll of paper towels to clean up all the drool. Guess I am going to have to get a bigger garage.
  3. The 70's were not too kind to the American manufactures either. They went through a lot of the same tensions and situations as in the UK. In 1974 the U.S. government put a lot of new safety and smog regulations into effect which effected both sides of the pond. In 1974 I traded my Mercury Capri in for a brand new Mustang II. The Capri was an excellent car. The Mustang was a piece of junk. Transmission went out 6 times, and during the last visit to the shop I was told It was actually a Ford Pinto with a Mustang body. I traded it in for a Toyota, and the was the last American car I purchased. Chrysler came out with their "K" cars and they were also crap. You could drive by a Ford dealership and watch the lot boys re-glue the trim on the sides of the cars as they were peeling away. There was a lot of conflict between the Unions and Management as well. My daily drivers are now either Japanese or European. Japanese cars have that quality and dependability you can rely on, but are boring. That is why I love Jags, exciting to drive, but not my daily driver. Seriously thinking about an F-type.
  4. I was thinking it should be Burrrrrrrrmingham.
  5. Ron, I restored and owned on a lot of British cars during the 70's. An E-type, Austin Healey 3000, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger. Besides keeping those multiple carbs in sync spent a lot of time working on the electrics. I am familiar with the militant unionsism during that time. It's sad it put an end to a rich period of British history. Jeremy Clarkson did a great piece on it, "Clarkson's Car Years - Who Killed The British Motor Industry? Here is a link if you haven't seen it.
  6. Dan, Peter, & Carole, Thanks for the cold welcome. Would have said warm but it appears you're all in a frozen state. Dan, It appears you are getting some pretty cold winter storms in Georgia this year. Happy time for the 4-wheelers and not so much for Jags. Peter, Brummagem? First time I have heard that term. Is it slang or have a hidden meaning? Carole, Palm Springs has it's advantages during the winter. It's averaging 80F here now. During the summer it averages 118F. Way too hot to drive in a convertible. During the summer it stays garaged. I take it out about once or twice a month for a quick spin and it's back in the garage. I have had this car going on two years and have only put on 300 miles. The top stays down all time, I do raise and lower it about once a month. Afraid of the dreadful green shower, so use it sparingly. Spent last summer replacing all the plastic parts on the engine, and next summer will do the suspension. Have always been a fan of British cars, with the exception of Lucas. When Thatcher was PM, she should have declared Lucas a national disaster. Might have helped save the British auto Industry.
  7. I have a 2002 XK8, which I am enjoying driving around with the top down in sunny California.
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